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Culture :
Sikkimese culture is an equal blend of both the Buddhist and Hindu
traditions. Buddhist festivals like Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab,
Duechen, Drupkateshi and Bhumchu are celebrated here with much pomp
and splendor. So are the Hindu festivals of Diwali and Dusherra. Christmas
too is a much-enjoyed festivals and has been promoted to attract tourists
during the off-season. |
| It is common to hear Western music
playing at all places. And Nepali songs with western beats are gaining
popularity. Football and Cricket remains the favourite games of
the locals. Noodles based delicacies such as thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk,
fakthu, and wonton common in Sikkim. Momos or dim sums are an all
time favorite. The people here have a diet rich in beef, pork and
other meats. Alcohol is cheap owing to low excise duty. |
Demographics
Nepalese of ethnic origin form majority of Sikkim’s
population. The native Sikkimese, consisting of Bhutias, who migrated
from the Kham district of Tibet, the Lepchas, the state’s original
inhabitants, and the Damais also form a sizable part of the population.
Immigrant residents include the Marwaris, Biharis and the Bengalis.
Hinduism and Buddhism are the two popular faiths. Christianity is
professed mostly among the Lepchas who converted to the faith after
the British started preaching in the region in the late 19th cent.
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| Nepali is by far the lingua franca of Sikkim.
Sikkimese, Lepcha, Limboo, Bengali, Hindi and English are also spoken.
Sikkim is the least populous and least densely populated state. With
50000 inhabitants Gangtok is the state’s only significant town.
The per capita income is Rs. 11,356, which is one of the highest in
the country. |
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